Fortenberry, Yashirin say economy is biggest issue

U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and his opponent in the upcoming election, Max Yashirin, said they feel that the economy is one of the biggest issues facing Americans this year.

“Clearly, the economic conditions in the country are the major issues that are occupying the policy discussions and are intense among voters,” said Fortenberry, a 47-year-old Republican seeking his third term in office representing the 1st District.

“We need to look at what we can do to get more jobs,” said Yashirin, the 26-year-old Democratic challenger. “People are afraid of losing their jobs. We need to make sure that there are jobs here.”

As part of any economic recovery for U.S. citizens, Fortenberry said Nebraskans can play a part in helping improve the country’s energy problems.

“I think Nebraska can help lead America’s energy future,” he continued. “We need to look at our own domestic resources. We can have a much more stable and sustainable energy future. Right now, we are vastly overdependent on foreign oil. We need to build a portfolio with a variety of energy resources: Wind, solar, agri-bio, geo-thermal and other renewable sources.

“This has been a priority in our office long before the price of gas hit $4 per gallon, but the overall energy issues have been thought about piece mill. We need to approach this issue with the same urgency as our current financial crisis. Oil companies have resisted this for a very, very long time. But there isn’t a silver bullet to this issue. It’s more how we develop a very long book with a lot of chapters of different resources. This is one of the real factors that is harming our economy at the moment and making us economy vulnerable.”

Yashirin said something needs to be done to shift the balance of energy power away from foreign oil.

“I think it’s important for us to embrace green possibilities that are out there,” Yashirin said. “Wind energy and switch grass can be effective alternative energy sources. We can create methane from bio sources. It’s going to take some time to get alternative fuel sources up and running. Until then, we need to drill (for oil) in the Gulf Coast, but we have to do it in a responsible manner and do it the right way. It’s not going to solve all our issues. I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

But he said the economy isn’t the only issue facing American voters this year.

A veteran of the Iraq War, having spent 6 1/2 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Yashirin said the failures in Iraq need to be addressed.

“I spent one year in Iraq,” he said. “What I feel about Iraq right now is that I think we’ve done everything that we can do there. I don’t think there’s a military solution to what’s going on there. We need to bring troops back home. We need to go back to Afghanistan. I think that’s a failure on this administration and Congress. Osama Bin Laden is still out there. I think that’s where the focus should have been all along.”

Fortenberry said there is certainly a need for members of Congress to regroup.

“Congress as an institution has become detached from where most Americans are,” the congressman said. “The attitude in Congress needs to be to put aside partisan differences. People see this arguing and bickering, and people get frustrated that Congress can’t put aside those political differences to get something done.

“There are some serious flaws within the institution that can make it difficult to overcome those barriers. The 24-hour news cycle creates a dynamic in Congress, where political issues take up more time.”

But he said the job as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives is important enough to see past those flaws.

“My job is two-fold,” Fortenberry continued. “One is to represent the people of the 1st District. The second is to try to make a contribution to the well-being of this country. I have to try to keep priorities. Smart energy, creating an entrepreneurial society, ideas of family life and culture all play into that. The strength of the nation ultimately measures up with the strength of the families.

“This is a serious business. We have to make very tough judgment calls on a variety of very tough issues. To have this level of experience not only now positions me to lead on some of these areas but also positions me to make a contribution to the formulation of projects from early on. It’s very important to have relationships on both sides of aisle to get things done.”

Yashirin said he is running for the office because he thinks he’s in a position to make a difference.

“I think I have a lot to offer,” he said. “For me, I was getting frustrated. For young people like myself, our voices were not getting heard in Washington. I saw the way my fellow veterans who served in Iraq were being treated. I think this country can do better for our veterans: Better education benefits, better health benefits for the people who do these dangerous jobs that we ask them to do.”